Tbical



Sept. 29, 1925. R 16,176

L. SIEBERT SAFETY SWITCH MECHANISM Original Filed Oct. l7, 1921 INZENTOR ATI'bRNEY v 25 therefrom; the

.Reissued Sept. 29, 1925.

' UNITED STATES LESTER .SIEBERT, OF FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA,

TBICAL & MANUFACTIIRING CO. INC., PORATION OF CALIFORNIA.

ASSIGNOR TO DRENDELL ELEC- OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA, A COR- SAFETY SWITCH MECHANISM.

Original No. 1,491,278, dated April 22, 1924, Serial reissue filed October 21,

[To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LESTER SI'EBERT, a citizen of the United States, residingin the city and county of San Francisco and State of 5 California, have invented certain new 'anduseful Improvements in Safety Switch Mechanism, of Y which the following is specification.

, v The present invention relates to a safety 10' switch mechanism for precluding accidental contact with the switch lever or fuse terminals during such time as the switch is in closed position, and for precluding accidental contact with the stationary or live contact jaw when the switch is disengaged therefrom, and the invention relates to that Y type of apparatus illustrated in my co-pend- 19th, 1919: I

Among the advantages of the present invention are the provision of ameans controlled by the opening and'clos'ing of the switch lever for protecting the livecontact jaw on the disengagement of the switch provision of means whereby a shield or protector for-the fuse and fuse mg application Serial N 0. 298,116, filed May terminals is held in locked position by. the

position of the switch lever, and is'released at such time as the lever is moved to open 0 position; to provide means whereby the protector for the live j'aw contac't is ca able of being locked thereover precluding t e closing gf the switch lever. I

' e pr'esent invention has numerous advantages from a point of safety over lever switch constructions as at present manufac-. tuned, in that its use precludes the changing of a fuse by an inexperienced person, during suchtime as" the switch'is in closed position. It also precludes accidental contact with the lever when the sameis in. closed position, and prevents access being" had to the stationary contact jaw when the same is gen-- gaged by the lever. The invention precludes the accidental contact with the stationary contactv jaw by the automatically moving thereover of a protector designed to conceal the same when the lever is disengaged therefrom, a With the above mentioned and other 012- No. 508,405, filed October 17, 1921. Application for 1924. Serial in. 745,001.

jects in view, the invention consists'in the novel construction and combination of parts hereinafter described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and set forth in the claims hereto appended, it being understood. that various changes in the form, proportion, size and minor details of construction within the scope of the claims may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

To more fullycomprehend the invention, reference is directed tothe accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of the preferred embodiment of my invention, with the'fuse shield and switch lever or blade in closed position, the latter locking the former from being opened.

Figure 2 is a view in broken top plan of the invention illustrated in Figure 1.

Figure 3 'is a View similar to Figure 1 -with the switch in open position and illustrating the fuse shield raised exposing the fuse, also. the overlying the stationary contact jaw, and

' Figure 4 is a detail sectional view ofthe operating spring and the hinge joint for the jaw protector.

In the drawings, wherein like characters 50 of reference designate corresponding. parts throughout the several views, 1 indicates a base or support, which carries on its surface a conventional stationary contact jaw 2, p the lever or blade fulcrum support 3 and $5 the fuse terminals .4, said parts 3 and 4 being illustrated as connected beneath the base by a conductor 5, and the fuse" terminals being connected by a suitable fuse 6. A blade or switch lever 7 is pivotally mounted, 90 as at,8, on the upper end'of the part 3 and is adapted for swingingmovement to engage the contact =jaw 2, which is illustrated as being the live contact at all times. In the present illustration, a three blade switch is '95 1 illustrated, but itis apparent that the invention is equally adapted for use in connection with one blade switches, and to simplify the description of the present invention, the following specification is written in the singujaw protector in a position I lar, as it will be readily understoodthat a switch containing any number of blades may be employed.-

Hinged as at 9 to the base 1 immediately in advance of the stationary contact jaw 2 is asuitable jaw protector provided with the rear wall 10, top wall 11 and end walls 12, but one of which is illustrated in the drawing. The front' of said protector is open to receive the .contactjaw 2, and'said 'rotector is adapted to be swung upwardly y the tension of 'a spring 13 inthe hinge part thereof. Preferably at each end, sald jaw protector carries idler rollers '14, and

with the same are adapted'to contact thelower terminal side edges 15 of a blade shield 16. The shield 16 is provided with a top wall 17 and'downwardly extending side walls 18, which are adapted to ride on i the ,members14 when the lever'is moved to approximately closed position. The shield 16 encloses the blade or lever 7 and the same is secured thereto .to pivot therewith, and when the lever is in closed osition engaging the jaw 2, the lower e ges of the side walls of the shield extend approximately into contacting relation with the surface of the base 1, and protect the blade or lever and jaw 2 from accidental contact.

A handle 19 affords a means for operating t e leveif. Extending upwardly from .the

use 1, at one :end of the protector 10 isa 'blade 20 formedwith a locking aperture 21,

and which is adapted to register with an apertured plate 22 on the end of the proteetorlO, when saidprotector is in a position of alignment with the jaw I 2, said blades 20 and 22 with their aligned ports affording a means fol-locking the protector concealing said jaw 2 and preventing. .the' closing of the blade or switch 7.

Fulcrumed on an axis 21 parallel to the fulcrum point 8 of the blade or lever 7 is a fuse shield 22 substantially U-shaped in cross section and of a length adapted when overlying said terminals 4, and enclosing the fuse 6 therein, to be disposed with its free end-in slight spaced relation with the rear of the blade shield 16. Like the shield 16, the side walls of the shield 22' extend in close proximity to the surface of the base 1 when the shield 22 is in closed position overlying contacts 4, as in Figure 1,

precluding accidental .contact with tacts 4, as above explained.

The shield 22' is provided with an oper ating handle or finger piece 23 to facilitate the operation thereof, and forwardly from said conbpposite sides thereof extend the spring fingers 24, the same adjacent their outer ends being outwardlybowedor bent as. at 25, as clearl illustrated in Figure 2 of the drawings. e side walls 18 ofthe blade shield 16, at a oint ofiset from alignment with the blade 10mm 8, are provided with pass beneath said pins whereby the shield .22 is locked in, its closed-position during such time'as theblade-o'r' l'ever 7 is in engagement with the jaw 2. On the disengagement of the blade or lever 7 from the jaw. 2, a movement is imparted to the pins 26 about the blade or lever fulcrum 8,- moving said pins in alignment with the outwardly bent or curved portions '25 of the fingers 24 permitting the raising. of the fuse shell, at which time access can be had I -for'replacing or renewing the fuse 6.

Closure springs 28 are provided on each 'side of the fuse shield22" to. insure the movement of the same to closed position whenthe hand is released from the handle 23; these springs insuring the closing of the shield 22 to conceal the contacts 4 and fuse 6 immediately on the operator releasing .his grip on the handle 23.

By m present construction it will be observed t at, so long as the blade or lever 7 is in engagement with the stationary contact jaw 2, faccess for the renewal or replacement of the fuse 6 is precluded due to the locking ofthe fuse'Shiel-d 22 in closed position, but that said shield will be readily raised on the disengagement of the blade or lever 7 from the stationary jaw 2. Itwill also be apparent that, immediately on the disengagement of the blade on lever 7 from thecontact jaw 2, the protector 10 is automatically movedb the spring. 13;in a position' to overlie an conceal the contact jaw by the blade or-lever 7.

Iclaim'r' v 1. A safety switch mechanism including a base, a stationary contact jaw carried thereby,'a .pivotally mounted switch lever carried by the base and movable into and'out' vof engagement with said jaw;-"a shield carried by the lever for protecting the same against accidental contact, a jaw protector hingedly mounted on the base ad acent to .saidjaw to swing to and from said jaw; a

spring for moving said protector to overlie said jaw on the disengagement of the lever therefrom, and a part associated with the jaw protector and adaptedfor engagement '2, which in the present case is the live tera "bers 14 at opposite ,ends of the protector and pivoting said protector on its fulcrum 8 to expose the said jaw 2 for engagement with the shield on the movement of said lever to closed. position, 'whereby a move-' ment is imparted to said protector to pivotthe same to expose said jaw and permit the engagement of said lever therewith.

2 In combination with a single throw switch having pivotally mounted switch blades, a pair of fuse terminals adjacent thereto and in circuit therewith, a pivotally clbsed position, said means permitting the i nde'pendent pivotal movement of said shield when the switch blades are in circuit openli'ng positi0n to permit access to said fuse terminals.

3. In combination with a lever switch andits associated contacts; a pair of fuse terminals adjacent'thereto and in circuit therewith; a pivotally mounted shieldnorm'ally overlying said terminals; a shield mounted on the switch and movable therewith, spring fingers mounted on one of said shields; and locking parts mounted on the other one of said shields for cooperation with said fingers for locking the first mentioned shield in closed. positidn during such time as the.

switch is in'elosed position.

4. In combination with a pivoted lever switch and its associated contacts; a pair 'of fuse terminals'adjacent thereto and in circuit therewith; a pivotally mounted shield normally overlying said terminals; a shield 9 locking parts carried. by the switch shield mounted on and movable with the switch; spring fingers carried by the fuse shield;

adapted to engage said spring fingers and lock said fuse shield in closedz 'nositi-ons in the. circuit closing position of the switch, said locking parts adapted for positioning ,[on the opening of .sai d switch to-permit the' clearance ofsaidspring fingers, toenable the opening ,of the fuse shield when'said switch is in open position. 4 v

5. In combination with a pivoted lever switch'and its jaw contact; a pair of fuse terminals ad acent to said switch; a movableshield normally overlying said terminals; a

, shield enclosing said .switch and movable therewith; a movable-protector associated with said jaw contact and adapted for enclosing the same on the opening of said a switch; and means for locking said terminal shield in closed position when said switch is closed, said means adapted for releasing'on the opening of said switch.

6. In combination with a pivoted lever switch; a jaw contact with which the same engages; a shield enclosing the lever switch and movable therewith; and a movable protectorjcarried by the base and adapted for movement to overlie said jaw contact, and a part'carried thereby and adaptedfor en gage1nent with the shield on the closing of said lever for removing saidprotector to eipose said jaw contact. I

* 7. In combination with a knife switch, a protecting shield i overlying the same and pivotally movable therewith, a pair of fuse terminals, :1 protecting shield associated therewith for positioning to overlie and en'- close the same, means for releasably locking the latter shield in fuse terminal enclosing position, and protecting means movable to cover the engaged contacts by the knife switch from accidental contact when the knife switch is disengaged therefrom.

8. In combinationwith a panel board, a pivotally' mounted knife switch, switch jaw contacts and fuse terminals carried thereby, removable means for protecting saidfuse terminals from accidental contact, a protecting covering movable with the switch for protecting the same from accidental contact when in closed position, and means carried. by the panel board for protecting the jaw contacts from accidental contact when the knife switch'is disengaged therefrom.

9. Protecting means for switches, where, in a switch includes a pivotedswitch mem ber movable on its pivotto circuit opening and closing positions, and fuse elements mounted adjacent and in circuit with said switch member; comprising a protecting shield 'movably mounted adjacent said fuse. elements having means for normally holding the shield in protecting position, elements. mounted on and movable with the switch member, and cooperating members on the elements to hold the shield in protecting position.

- 10, Protecting means for switches, wherein a switch includes a pivoted switch member' movable into'circuit closing and opening position with fuse elements adjacently mounted and I indg a protecting shield pivotally mounted a acent the fuse elements, and movable to cover said elements, means for operating the shield to move and normally retain it in fuse element covering position, elements mounted on the switch member and movable there.-

with, cooperating elements on said.protect-' ing shield positioned for engagement b the elements on the'switch member to 100 the shield in covering position when the switch member is in circuit closing position, saidmeans moving the shield and cooperatshield adapted to be engaged in circuit clos- 'ing position of said switch member by saidin circuit therewith; comprising elements into covering1 position irrespec- 1 5 tiveof the position of t e switch member and earned elements.v

, 11. Protecting means for switches, where I v .in a switch includes a baseplate', a pivoted fswltch member mounted on said base plate and movable'intn and out of circuit closing position, and fuse elements mounted on the plate adjacent the switch member and connected thereto; comprising a cover mountedonvthe switch member and movable therewith, a protecting shield pivotally connected to the base plate and normallyoverlying the fuse elements, said cover and shield being formed for cooperation with the base plate to house the switch and fuse elements, lock members on the cover,'and cooperating members on the shield for engagement by the lock membersto retain the shield in position to house the fuse elements in the cireuit closing position of the switch member. 12. Protecting means for switches, wherein a switch includesa base plate, a. pivoted switch'member mounted on the base plate, and fuse elements connected with the switch member. and carried by the base plate; com-,

prising a cover mounted on said switch shield pivotally in a switch includes a base plate having a pivoted, switch member mounted thereon with fuse elements adjacent the switch member and connected thereto; comprising a switch cover substantially U-shape in cross section mountedon said switch member for movement therewith, the ends ofsaid cover v lying adjacent the base plate in the circuit' closing positionof the switch forcooperation therewith to house said switch, a shield pivotally mounted on the base plate on an axis lying in a plane parallel to the base plate and substantially common to the pivot-- of the switch -member, and cooperating means on the switch cover and the shield fd'r locking the shield in position to coversaid; fuse element when the switch member is in circuit closing relation.

'14. Protectin means in a switch inc udes a base plate having a pivoted switch member thereon and fuse elements adjacent the pivoted portion of the switch member and connected thereto; comprising a U-shape cover plate mounted on and movable with the switch member, a shield for covering the fuse elements of U-shape in cross section pivotally connected to the base plate at one end and adapted to have its-other end lie in adjacent relation to for switches, wherethe end of the cover when positioned over said fuse elements, said cover and shield cooperating-to house the fuse elements and switch member in one. position, the legs of said'cover and shield terminating adjacent the baseplate in said position, and interlocking means on the cover and shield adapted to prevent pivotal movement of the shield to uncover said. fuse elements when the switch member is in circuit closing relation.

15. Protecting means .for switches, wherein a switch includes abase plate, a pivoted switch'member mounted on the base plate, and'fnse elements connected with the switch member and carried by the base plate; comprising a rotecting' shield pivotally mounted on the ase plateand normally adapted to overlie the fuse elements, said shield having depending side extensions cooperating with the base to completely house the fuse elements, and means for locking the shield in position to prevent access to the. fuse elementswhen the switch is closed.

In testimony whereof I have-signed my name to this specification, this 4th day of April, 1925.

' LESTER TSIEBER'IH. 

